District 211 apologizes for antisemitic remarks in back-to-school email chain

An antisemitic comment sent by a former student was shared on a widely distributed back-to-school email from Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 last week, officials said.

In a statement posted Monday, administrators said a glitch after the district moved its email system to Google Workspace caused a routine email intended for internal use to be shared with current and former students and staff members.

All members of that distribution list were then able to reply to all, resulting in an excessive amount of emails in the chain but also the offensive antisemitic remark sent by an ex-student.

The district learned of the reply — reported as “Hail Hitler” — through a formal complaint it received Friday. Monday’s statement addressed the problem and steps taken to correct it.

“District 211 does not condone racist, antisemitic, or discriminatory comments of any kind,” the statement reads. “We recognize the importance of responding promptly; however, it is also important to conduct a careful and thorough review before sharing conclusions publicly, including confirming who authored the comment and the circumstances surrounding it.”

The district’s technology department worked to stop continued responses to the full distribution list even as it retracted the previous emails. An initial statement on the district’s website, before the offensive email was reported, addressed only the large amount of emails students and staff were receiving.

“Although we cannot undo the harm caused by a message that conflicts with our mission, values, and goals, we remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every student, employee, and family member feels safe, respected, and valued,” the district’s statement reads.

epeterson@dailyherald.com